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Chet Baker: It Could Happen To You: Chet Baker Sings
Unlike the earlier Pacific releases, which featured Baker’s vocals and trumpet playing in equal measures, the 1958 record It Could Happen To You focuses mainly on vocals. Backed by a stellar East Coast rhythm section that glides over the changes like figure skaters (Drew in particular responds with delicate accompaniment), Baker delivers deeply moving renditions of standards. The best songs are ballads like “Everything Happens To Me” and “While My Lady Sleeps”, which are perfectly suited to Baker’s vulnerable delivery and are achingly beautiful, a soundtrack to rainy nights at home alone with a bottle of Scotch. The up-tempo numbers feature more trumpet soloing and are charged with mellow phrasing and a keen sense of melody, demonstrating why Baker was admired by so many of his peers.
Few singers also double on a horn, but Baker shows how successfully it could be done, blowing and singing both complementing each other as part of a compelling conception. Newly remastered, It Could Happen To You is clearly a vocal jazz classic.
Track Listing
1. Do It The Hard Way 2. I'm Old Fashioned 3. You're Driving Me Crazy 4. It Could Happen To You 5. My Heart Stood Still 6. The More I See You 7. Everything Happens To Me 8. Dancing On the Ceiling 9. How Long Has This Been Going On? 10. Old DEvil Moon 11. While My Lady Sleeps 12. You Make Me Feel So Young.
Personnel
Chet Baker
trumpet and vocalsChet Baker-trumpet, vocals; Kenny Drew-piano; Sam Jones or George Morrow-bass; Philly Joe Jones or Dannie Richmond-drums.
Album information
Title: It Could Happen To You: Chet Baker Sings | Year Released: 2003 | Record Label: Fantasy Jazz
About Chet Baker
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